Wheel shroud fastener



March 23, 1943. A. cLAuD-MANTLE WHEEL sHRoUD FASTENER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed June 2 0, 1941 March 23, 1943. A CLAUD-MANTLE I 2,314,651y

WHEEL SHRCUD FAS TENER Filed June 20, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PatentedMar. 23, 1943 2,314,651v WHEEL snRoUD FAsrENEa- Arthur Gland-Mantle, Tru

mbull, Conn. assignor to The Bassick Company, Bridgeport, Conn., acorporation of Connecticut Application June 20, 1941, Serial No. 398,943

9= Claims.

lIfhis invention relatesto an1 improved fastener or catch for a shroud,or panel associated with the fender of. a motor car. The shroud is inthe form of a plate received in an opening at the side. of. the fender,and when assembled with the fender the shroud provides a skirt. portionconcealing the wheelto a large extent.

When the wheelis to. be. removed it is `-neces- Sary to remove theshroud, and it is. manifestly desirableA that the shroud fastener be.easily, conveniently and quickly manipulable. It is also desirable thatthe shroud be capable of easy, convenient and quick. reinsertion intoits seat in Yor on the fender structure.. It is. also desirable thatthe. fastener have an eiective holding or latch actionwithout loosenessor play, and that the fastener devicebe easily accessible formanipulation. The fender and shroud structure should also besatisfactory from the standpoint of, appearance.

One of the objects of my invention is. to. provide a wheel shroudlfastener which meets the above mentioned conditions.

Anotherv object is to furnish a simple, compact and effective. fastenerdeviceA for holding in place wheel shrouds and` similar elements.

To. theseand other ends the inventionconsists in the novelfeatures andcombinations of parts. to be hereinafter described and claimed.

InV the accompanying drawings:

Fig.V l is a side elevation of a` rear fender having a wheel shroud heldin place therein by a fastener embodying my invention;

Fig. 2.. is a view on a larger scale, partly broken away, showing the.shroud as viewed from the inner side.

Fig. 3 is asection on line 3 3 of Fig. 2 vbut with the broken portionssomewhat diiierently shown;

Fig. 4 is a partial view, similar to Fig. 3, showing the rockingrod inthe released position;

Fig. 5 is an enlargedV section on line 5 5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 shows parts at the lower right hand portion of Fig. 2 on a largerscale;

Fig. 7 vis a section on line 1.-7, of Fig. 6;.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7, showing the. rocking rod moved to anextent in the releasing direction;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8, showing the rocking rod moved as faras possible in the releasing direction;

Fig. 10 is a section on line lil-l0 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 1`1Y isa detail of the mounting plate carried by the shroud;

Fig. 12 is a detaily of the rotary shaft or stud; and

Fig. 13 is a. detail section of the headportion of the rocker shaftactuated by the stud.

In the drawings, I have shown at 2i! a rear fender of a motor car, saidfender being cut away at its lower portion as indicated at 2l to providea wheel-access opening Whichunder ordinary circumstances is closed by ashroud 22. This shroud 22 is in the form of a panel or plate set in thewheel-access. opening from beneath and fastenedin, said opening, bymeans of a fastener indicated generally at 23.

My invention is particularly concerned with the nature, structure andarrangement of the fastener which, broadly considered, comprises arocking rod for holding the shroud in position and a rotary manipulatingmember by means of which the rod is moved from holding position tothereleasing position, and vice versa.

In the drawings, the rocking rod is indicated generally at 24 and themanipulator or rod-moving, element at 25, and in this form themanipulator is located intermediate of the ends of the rod and has amanipulating portion projecting downwardly from the lower edge of theshroud at a point between the ends of the shroud.

As will be seen from Fig. 3, the fender structure 20 .is provided at theends of the, opening 2| with flange portions 26 forming shoulders, andas will be seen from Fig. 5, a similar flange portion 26 forming ashoulder, is provided at the upper part of the wheel-access opening.These shoulder portions in conjunction provide a forwardly facing seatindicated at 21 (and preferably including a rubber seating member 28) inwhich the shroud plate is received, said shroud plate being provided atthe upper part with an inturned flange 29 and along the ends withinturned flange portions 29. In order to reinforce the shroud plate andaid in holding it firmly in place, said plate is provided at suitablepoints in its length with inner transverse strips 30 suitably fastenedthereto as by welding, these strips each being provided at the upper endwith a hook-like portion 3l (Fig. 5) adapted to straddleV the adjacentflange portion on the fender. The hook-like portions 3l at spaced pointsin the length of the shroud plate serve to prevent inward or outwarddisplacement of the upper portion of the plate relatively to the plateseat.

The fastener device 23 previously mentioned is carried by the shroudplate adjacent the lower margin of. the. latter and is supported upon aninturned lip or flange 32 with which the plate is provided at its lowerboundary. The rocking rod 24 previously mentioned is mounted within thelip or flange 32. This rocking rod has a body portion 33 and acrank-like intermediate portion 34 through which it is actuated by therotary device 25 in a manner hereinafter described. The rocking rod 24is further provided with crank-like extremities 35 which are extendedpast the ends of the shroud plate and act to fasten said plate inposition in the manner hereinafter described. At certain points alongthe lower boundary of the shroud plate the rocking rod is provided withsuitable bearings on the plate and for this purpose bearings 36 bent upfrom sheet metal may be employed, said bearings being secured to the lipor ilange 32 in a suitable manner as by spot welding. These bearings 35are at the upper side of the lip or ilange 32.

The rocking rod is also mounted on the shroud plate by means of anintermediate mounting plate 31, which mounting plate serves also as amounting for the manipulator or rod moving element 25. This mountingplate 31 is generally of angular form, having a horizontal flange 38located above and against the iiange 32, and an upwardly extending ange39 disposed ilatwise against the upright part of the shroud plate. Theplate 31 is secured to the shroud plate in any suitable manner, as byspot welding. 'I'he mounting plate 31 extends inwardly somewhat beyondthe inner edge of the ange 32, and in a region adjacent the inner edgeof the ange 32 is provided with bent-up portions 40 serving as bearingsfor the rocking rod, these bearings 40 being located adjacent therespective sides of the crank portion 34.

At a point substantially in line With the bearings 40 the mounting plate31 is provided with an opening 4|. this opening being provided with adown-turned rim 42, and this opening serves a bearing for a rotary shaftor stud member 43 which is a part of the manipulator 25. The stud member43 has a portion extending downwardly from the shroud plate and adaptedto be turned in a suitable manner, as by a wrench, and a portionextending upwardly into the space within the shroud plate and adaptedupon rotation to shift the crank portion 34 and thereby the rocking rodto the fastening or latching position or to the released position.

In the particular form shown the stud 43 is short but of relativelylarge diameter and immediately below the rim 42 is provided with anintegral collar 44 of greater diameter than the rim 42. Beneath thecollar 44 the stud is provided with a polygonal Wrench-engaging portion45.

At its upper part the stud 43 is provided with a diametrical bore 46 androtatably mounted in this bore is the smooth intermediate portion 41 ofa transverse rocker shaft 4S. This rocker shaft 43 serves as a means forengaging and moving the crank portion 34 of the rocking rod, and forthis purpose the rocker shaft is provided at one end with acrank-engaging head 49 having a notch 59 in which the crank portion 34is received. At the opposite end of the rocker shaft there is provided abalancing member operating in the manner hereinafter described. Thismember 5| may as shown comprise a disklike member adapted to bearagainst a washer 5|a surrounding the stud 43 and supported against thebody of the mountingplate 31. Member 5| ts over a reduced portion 52 onthe 75 rocker shaft and is held in place by riveting over the extremityof the rocker shaft, as indicated at 53.

The head 49 previously mentioned is of greater diameter than the body ofthe rocker shaft s0 as to provide a shoulder 54 bearing against one sideof the stud member 43, whereas the member 5| provides a shoulder bearingagainst the member 43 at the opposite side of the latter. The head 49and its connected body portion are free to turn in the stud member andthe member 5| is free to turn independently of the rocker shaft so as toact as a roller support. The notch 50 is so shaped that upon rotation ofthe stud member the crank portion 34 will be engaged to turn the rockingrod on its axis for the purpose of shifting the latching extremities ofthe rocking rod. The head 49 is bevelled oi at one side, as shown at 55,and the notch 59 provided in the head is of a depth approximating thelength of the head, being somewhat cut back at the respective sides ofthe head, as indicated at 5S and 51 respectively. In Fig. 3 is shown theposition of the head 49 when the shroud plate is fastened in place, andin Fig. 4 is shown the position of the head in this particular case whenthe head is moved as far as possible in the releasing direction. Fromthese views it will be seen that in this particular instance themovement of the head 49 is through substantially 180, but obviouslyvariation may be made in this respect.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, counter-clockwise movement of stud 43 beyondthe position shown in Fig. 3 is prevented by engagement of head 49 witha stop member 58 projecting upward from the mounting plate. Similarlyrotation of the stud member in a clockwise direction beyond the positionshown in Fig. 4 is prevented by engagement of head 49 with an inclinedstop member 59 provided at the inner edge of the mounting plate.

The crank-like extremities 35 of the rocking rod cooperate with i'lxedparts on and within the fender structure 2i) in xing the shroud plate inposition. In the p-articular case illustrated, the fixed parts referredto are constituted by lugs 69 carried by the part 20 in a concealedposition adjacent the lower edge portions of the wheel-access opening2|. The lugs 60 may advantageously be of angular form having flanges 6|suitably fastened, as by spot welding, to flange portions 62 extendingalong the lower boundary of the fender body, the lugs 60 also beingprovided with upright parts 63 which are adapted to be engaged by thecrank portions 35.

One of the lug portions 63 is shown in Fig. 5, and it will be observedthat at its upper inner part it is bevelled 01T to provide an inclinededge portion 34 with which the end portion of the corresponding crankportion 35 is adapted to cooperate. The lug parts 63 with their inclinedsurfaces 84 provide abutments in the fender structure at opposite sidesof the wheel-access opening on which the latching extremities of therocking rod are adapted to ride for giving the shroud plate an upwardthrust, and it will be noted that the rocking rod being relatively longand made of light stock is adapted to be placed under a torsion actionas hereinafter described.

For assisting in the latching action as hereinafter described the rimportion 42 extending downward from the mounting plate is provided withdiametrically located downward projections 65 which are adapted to beengaged by .recessedportions 66 providedk in the upper surface of thecollar 44.

In placing the wheel shroud in position in the fender, thefastenerdevice is preliminarily in released position such as shown in Fig. 4. Insuch position the intermediatey crank portionv of the rocking rod isdisposed toward the inner side of the mounting plate. Such a position isalso shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 9 tion between the intermediate crank portionand the crank extremities, this being an offset rela.- tion. In thisparticular case the crank extremities are oiset almost 45 from theintermediate crank portions so that when the intermediate crank portionhas thefposition shown in Fig. 9, in which it extends inwardly and'somewhat upwardly, the crank extremities have positions in which theyextend inwardly and somewhat downwardly. 'The fastener being in such aposition, the shroud plate is. engaged with its seat in the fender in anobvious manner.

The stud 43 is then engaged by a suitable wrench and turned in acounter-clockwise direc- -tion with reference to Fig. 4. In thefollowing operation the head 49 travels from the position of Fig. 4 tothe position of Fig. 3, moving meanwhile-over a restricted part ofthecrank portion 34, said restricted part being a portion lying almostwholly to onev side of the crank center and beingl indicated in thedrawings at 34a.

also shows the rela- As the'stud 43 is turned in the digently curvedrection above stated, the head 49 in being moved ,n

in anv arc turns on its axis and, traveling over thepart 34a in onedirection, cams the crank 3A upwardly until it lies directly over theupper end of the stud 43. Then, as rotationv of the stud is continuedthe head 49 begins to move in the reverse direction over the` part 34aand swings the crank portion 34 over to the position shown in Fig. 3,where further movement is arrested by the stop 58. In these movementsthe rocker shaft is well balanced and supported by the roller 5l bearingagainst the washer Sla. While these movements have been taking place thecrank extremities 35 have been lifted from the position the crank ofFig. 9 to the position of Fig. 5 where extremities are fully engagedwith the surfaces G4, with the rocking rod under a considerable degreeof torsion. As the rocking rod is placed under torsion the crankextremities engage the fixed inclined surfaces in a resilient mannerand, the rocking rod being bodily carried by the shroud plate, thelatter is forced home upwardly into its seat in a very effective manner.

As the shroud plate reaches the fully seated position, where it isresiliently held under a strong upward thrust, the recessed portions ornotches 55 of the stud member snap into engagement with the projections65 carried by the plate structure, with the result that the shroud plateis very eiiectively retained in place and any inadvertent or accidentaldislodgement or displacement thereof effectively prevented. When,however, it is desired to have access to the wheel, the shroud plate canbe easily. conveniently and quickly removed from the fender l byapplying a wrench to the stud member from y below and turning the studmember in the opposite direction to that above mentioned. By a reversalof the operations previously described the crank extremities are movedrearwardly away from their cooperating inclined surfaces, as shown bythe dotted lines in Fig. 5, and as soon as the crank extremities areclear of the upper ends of the lugs B0 the shroud plate is free vorderto remove it fromthe: fender structure.-

The easy. convenient and quick removal andreinsertion of the shroudplate is an important advantage of my invention. The fastener device hasa very eiective holding or latch action without looseness or play whichwould cause noise. Furthermore the construction is simple, compact andstrong. The number of parts isy reduced to a minimum. As the studmemberY projects downwardly from the lower edge of the fender structureit is conveniently accessible and at the same time, it is so small andunobtrusive that a fender structure of pleasing, attractive appearancecan be provided.

While I have shown herein only one form which vmy invention may take itis to be understood that the invention can be embodied in many andvarious forms and that various changesand modifications: in therorganization of parts and in the details; can be made without departurefrom the principles of the invention orl the scope or' the claims.

What I claim is:

l. In a fastener for relea'sably securing a shroud plate in thewheel-ac-cess opening of a fender, in which the1 fender carries atopposite sides of the .wheel-access opening fixed latching parts and theshroud plate carries latching means cooperating with said parts, alongitudinally disposed rocking rod carried by theV shroud plate at itsinner` side and having crank-like' extremities cooperating withA saidlatching parts and also having an intermediate crank-like operatingportion, and a rotary' actuating member'forl said rocking rod carried bythe shroud plate and turning,r on an axis approximately parallel to thegeneral plane of the plate and connected to said, operating portion sothat upon rotation of said rotary actuating member the rocking rod isturned on its axis for latching or releasing the shroud plate.

2. In a fastener mechanism for securing a plate in an opening, alongitudinally disposed rocking r-od carried by the plate at the innerface of the latter and having crank-like latching extremities projectingbeyond the plate, said rod having an intermediate crank-like operatingportion, and a rotary actuating member turning on an axis substantiallyat right angles to said rod and approximately parallel to the generalplane of the plate, carried by the plate and connected with saidoperating portion of the rod so as to turn the rod on its axis andthereby swing its crank-like extremities, said rotary actuating memberextending to and beyond one of the lengthwise edges of the plate andprovided with a projecting portion by means of which it can bemanipulated.

3. In a latching mechanism for a panel in which a torsion rod isemployed having an intermediate bent crank portion at the rear of thepanel` actuating means ior the rod comprising a stud member mountedbehind the panel for rotation on an axis parallel to the general planeof the panel and operably connected to said crank portion, said studmember projecting beyond one edge oi' the panel so as to be accessiblefor manipulation.

4. In a latching mechanism for a panel in which a torsion rod isemployed having an intermediate bent crank portion at the rear of thepanel, actuating means for the rod comprising a stud member mountedbehind the panel for rotation on an axis parallel to the general planeof the panel and operably connected to said crank portion, said studmember projecting beyond one edge of the panel so as to 'be accessiblefor manipulation, and

said stud member being mounted in and projecting through a flange formedon one edge of the panel.

5. In a latching mechanism for a panel member in which mechanism atorsion rod is employed having an intermediate bent crank portion at therear of the panel and adjacent one edge of the panel, Vactuating meansfor the rod comprising a stud member operatively connected to said crankportion and mounted for rotation on an axis substantially parallel tothe general plane of the panel, said stud member projecting beyond theadjacent edge of the panel and the projecting portion having wrenchfaces.

6. In a latching mechanism for a panel member in which mechanism atorsion rod is employed having an intermediate bent crank portion at therear of the panel and adjacent one edge of the panel, actuating meansfor the rod comprising a stud member operatively connected to said crankportion and mounted for rotation onA an axis substantially parallelA tothe general plane of the panel, said stud member projecting beyond theadjacent edge of the panel and the projecting portion having Wrenchfaces, and means associated with the outer end portion of the studmember for preventing dislocation after the torsion rod has been movedto the latching position or the releasing position.

'7. In a latching mechanism for a panel member adapted to be insertedinto a notchlike opening and having an inwardly directed ange at thatedge of the panel located at the outer side of the opening, a torsionrod disposed behind the body of the panel and extending longitudinallyof the panel adjacent the flange at the inner side of the vlatter andhaving cranklike latching extremities, members on the flange serving asbearings for the rod, and rod turning means extending through the flangefrom the outside and connected to the rod intermediate of its ends.

8. In a latching mechanism for a panel member, a torsion rod mounted atthe rear of the panel member and having cranklike latching extremitiesand a cranklike intermediate operating portion, a rotary shaftlikeoperating member for the rod having its axis generally perpendicular tothe rod, said shaftlike member having an operating end remote from therod,' and a rocker shaft journaled in the other end portion of saidshaftlike member and adapted to turn therein on an axis substantiallyperpendicular to the axis of said shaftlike member and provided at oneend and at one side of the shaftlike member With a fork operativelyengaged with the cranklike operating portion of the torsion rod.

9.v In a latching mechanism for a panel member, a torsion rod'mounted atthe lrear of I'the panel member and having cranklike latchingextremities and a cranklike intermediate operating portion, a rotarysha-ftlike operating memberfor the rod having its axis generallyperpendicular to the rod, said shaftlike member having an operating endremote from the rod, a rocker shaft journaled in the other end portionof said shaftlike member and adapted to turn therein on an axissubstantially perpendicular to the axis of said shaftlike member andprovided at one end and at one side of the shaftlike member Withv a forkoperatively engaged with the cranklike operating portion of the torsionrod, and means at that end of the rocker shaft which is opposite thefork for supporting the rocker shaft against lateral thrust.

ARTHUR CLAUD-MANTLE.

